SDNWorld Redux: Story Thread the Third

[PeZook]

FASTA bulletin

Soyuz 5 receives modified goalset

In light of the recent succesful MSA docking test, FASTA adminstrators have announced they will modify the mission of the soon-to-be-launched Soyuz 5 spacecraft, which will perform an orbital rendezvous instead of simple instrument evaluation. The rendezvous will happen between a Soyuz 5 capsule and a Silver Streak spaceplane, and the flight will also incorporate EVA tests.

Soyuz 5 will also be the first ever week-long manned flight, in order to answer the question of human ability to live in space for extended periods of time. The mission's scheduled launch time is January 21st.

Soyuz 6 will accomplish the first FASTA manned docking, and also remain in space for two weeks.

LRO-2 rolled out to launch pad

The second Lunar Reconeissance Orbiter was rolled out to its launch pad yesterday. Using a Lucrelance IIB booster, the probe will investigate landing sites identified with photographs delivered by LRO-1 with its hi-fidelity camera and powerful ground search radar. It will also conduct a host of scientific experiments, mostly related to radiaton and shielding for the manned moon mission.

FASTA has already begun planning a series of lunar landers to recon the landing sites in more detail.

FASTA petitions member countries to enter standardized docking mechanism agreement

Describing the Canissian proposal as "Sensible and humanitarian ; There is simply no reason not to sign an agreement which requires minor modifications to expendable capsules which have to built again from scratch for every flight, thus incurring only minor costs while potentially saving many lives in the course of future space exploration.", FASTA Director of Operations Damian Kaklamanis advised all FASTA member countries to enter the agreement.

[Shinn Langley Soryu]

Ashford Times Headlines in Brief

Langley Applies for FASTA Membership
Nation prepared to commit as much resources as it can to space exploration, Duke Lelouch declares

Foreign Aircraft Deliveries to Langley Armed Forces Commence
Large numbers of airplanes and helicopters to be delivered from Byzantium, Tian Xia, and Wilkonia over next five years

Morgenroete Starts Licenced Production of LAVs, PzH 2000s
Licenses purchased from Byzantine Heavy Industries in order to supply Langley Army and Marine Corps

WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE? Y / N

[Siege]

Journal of Technology

SinTEK Launches Augmetics Line



SinTEK today began unveiling its new Lifegiver™ line of state-of-the-art Class III augmetics, developed by the company’s biomedical engineering department in conjunction with the University of San Dorado and La Palma (USDLP) and the Presidential University (PU). The line currently consist of the JARVIK artificial heart and the C3 mechanical hand prosthesis.

With 40 air muscles, 24 movements and touch sensing fingertips the C3 is the closest robot hand to the human hand available. It can be controlled with thought alone. The first recipient of the C3 was officer Jonathan Davies of HardCorp© private security, who lost his hand in a shooting two years ago.

The Lifegiver™ line in the future will according to SinTEK come to include a wide range of augmetics, including artificial legs, ocular implants, artificial muscles and fibre-optic nerves.

Silver Streak To Participate In FASTA Test



The San Dorado Rocket Authority has announced that one of its Silver Streak orbiters will be participating in the Soyuz 5 mission. The orbiter will perform an orbital rendezvous with the CSR-built spacecraft. Whilst docked, astronauts of the two craft will conduct EVA tests. This will be the first time a Silver Streak crew conducts an EVA exercise.

Silver Streak will be piloted by Major Nadine Sadler, the first woman in space. Her navigator for this mission will be Richard Duvalle. Soyuz 5 will be flown by Byzantine cosmonaut Atos Odemanis.

Ralson Aerospace Begins Aerospike Design


Computer simulation of twin Linear Aerospike XRS-2200 engine firing.

Following the successful test of the D-1 aerospike-powered drone the aerospace division of Ralson Concerns Ltd. has begun construction of a full-scale twin linear aerospike test engine. It is believed that these engines will eventually be used to power a future next-generation SSTO spacecraft that will eventually replace the Silver Streak.

The linear aerospike design has the advantage of being stackable, allowing several smaller engines to be placed in a row to make one larger engine while augmenting steering performance with the use of individual engine throttle control.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Constantinople Times

Icarus Electronics releases a new line of processors and motherboard chipsets

Icarus Electronics released the new line of processors SOREQ II. Promising as many as 32 cores and a multicore graphics core, the processors deliver greater multitasking and parallelism than before, as well improved graphics performance. Icarus also released a new graphics chip that features support for DirectX 12 as well as OpenCL 3.0. A new set of motherboard chips was also released to support SOREQ II.

Icarus Electronics and Physicists at the University of Constantinople demonstrate a chip that employs Graphene transistors.

Graphene promises electrical conduction on the nanoscale, unlike Silicon. As such, graphene transistors promise greater performance than silicon transistors. Icarus Electronics collaborated with Solid State Physicists at the University of Constantinople to demonstrate a chip that employs over a ten thousand graphene transistors, a landmark feat. While the process of manufacturing graphene transistors still has ways to go, this success represents a big step towards replacing silicon with graphene. Icarus Electronics and Physicists say they hope that graphene will be able to replace Silicon by the start of the next decade.

[Zor]

Union Press

Zorian Petrollium requests drilling rights in the Ironridge Mountains

Zorian Petrollium Headquarters, Port Victory-With the discovery of Petrolium Deposits in the Ironridge mountains near the Velerian Coast, Zorian Petrol has made a request to open up comercial drilling in Veleria. Several deposits have been confirmed so far and it is beleived that there are more exist in the imediate area. Their proposed plan would involve the establishment of new facillities in the Ironridge mountains for the extraction of this material, increased Mechanical support and Port facillities as well as storage tanks in Fort Michael, a fleet of tanker barges as well as increased docking copacity for the port as well as loading and storage systems for petrolium products. The plan shall involve the expansion of the population of Zorian Veleria by some 10,000 People upon it's completion, not including a substantial increase in foreign labour for the construction, as well as causing a major development. It is expected that this plan will be approved by Parliament.

Agricultural Pogram for Inland Veleria announced

Ministry of Agriculture Headquarters, Port Victory-Today, sighting high costs of food shipments the Ministry of Agriculture has announced plans to begin a program to develop the cultivation of foodstuffs in the Ironridge mountains. The plan shall designate some 50 plots of land to experienced Zorian farmers as well as technical assistance, with property status transfered after five years. Around the port Michael Complex, a few sections of land have been designated towards the production of specific crops for test growth, among them being millet, soya and rice as well as the raising of a few dozen pigs and various vegitable gardens. If sucsessful, this plan is expected to be able to meet the Majority of the food needs for Fort Michael and the surrounding mining complexes.

Naval Expansion underway

Royal Nautical Engineering Naval Yards, Port Victory-Today, after various delays, construction has begun on the first additions to the Zorian Navy, as construction begins on several warships. Amongst them being the Destroyers HMZS Defiant and HMZS Dauntless, the Leviathan Class Submarine HMZS Kraken and the Overlord class LHA HMZS Pax Zoriatica. The Royal Naval Accademy is already stepping up crew training to deal

---

Pan Pacifica Conference

"I'll start the discussion by our situtation in Veleria. It is a growing land, full of chances, and thanks to the approximity, we are gaining a lot from this place. While the jihad here seems to be focused on Zorians in Rangatara, trouble is begginning to scatter through other nations, as well as overseas personnel of our nations are also in risk and danger. I also fear that the chaos caused by the unrest would turn that part into a shithole. Therefore, I'm open to ideas."

"Indeed" King Leighton-I said to the assembled leaders "the fact of the matter is that this Jihad stands as a threat to the collective interests and investments in Veleria. As such, some form of collective measure to provide stability for that region is nessisary.

"The first goal of this would be a joint effort to track down and illiminate illegal weapons shipments going into Eastern Veleria. The Royal Zorian Navy has been co-operating with Rangataran authorities to this effect and has intercepted over two dozen ships carrying illegal arms as well as making smuggling more dificult. We have received word that the 'street value' of most weapons sales has doubled in Rangatara, so Zoria doing at least something right. As well as the posibility of naval action, increased efforts and co-operation between our nation's respective Intellignece Services to help apply apply power to this problem as a Scalpel instead of as a Bezerker's axe.

"Secondly, supporting the development of the local military and internal infastructure of Rangatara is a nessesity to improve the nation's stablity. Zoria has alreay supplied the Rangataran government with a considerable amount equipment to the Rangataran army, as well as providing training for and improving the local road network. The other aspect is in improving the economic well being of the country itself, such as supplying and setting up Methane fermentation tanks for local farmers and steam powered tractors, improving the quality of life and by extension political stablity in the nation.

"On a more positive note, there has been a winding down of things in the Dragonsnake as of late. Zorian Military intelligence in the area has confirmed an increased amount of violence between the Malip and Foreign Jihadi forces due to theological diferences between the Malip and the more Orthodox foreigners and acts of retalliation, as well as an increasing number of Malip tribals willing to go to the negotiation table with us. We even have a few reports of Malip Refugees publically murdering foreign Imams in Rangataran camps. Even so, dilligence is still nessisary to insure continious stability in that region."

Edit-Minor Retcon

[Steve]

Pan-Pacifica Conference


"Certainly we should maintain support for preventing illegal gun-smuggling into the region," Stephen agreed. He didn't think it necessary to point out yet that even if Rangatara's supply line for them was drying up, Hadhramara was providing a far more useful point of origin, and that furthermore Tonkin was being somewhat apathetic and had also issued a couple perfunctory protests to the searching of Tonkinese-flagged vessels near Rangatara. Beyond Hadhramara, Ashant and Alyaniyah were close enough that smugglers could fly aircraft from those nations into the contested region to carry guns or jihadis and could do so with some degrees of success in evading any Zorian aerial patrolling. "And cooperation between intelligence services against terrorist groups is not out of the question. But I am concerned with more than just gun-running by jihadis. I am concerned about the thousands of Frequesuans, Velerians, and Astarian survivors that are transshipped through the region to locales around the world to be forced into what is effectively slave labor. I will point out that we already have some indications that the Jihadis that vex Zoria fund their efforts in part by selling captured Egsa or kidnapped people from outside the contested area to these slave traders, so there is a connection to justify attention in both directions. And if I might be so bold, I would rather permit a ship full of arms to slip through our grasp than a ship full of innocent people being sold into slavery. I would accept ten ships of illegal arms slipping through than the ship of innocent people, because slavery is that odious and offensive to the civilized, free nations of the world."

"However, I would also point out that Zoria's economy will not easily absorb the costs of your Velerian ambitions forever, not with the strain on your military logistics to maintain your counter-insurgency forces over so wide an area, and not with the sheer fact that Tonkinese interests in the region will prevent you from wielding the influence over Rangatara necessary to get their full cooperation. Especially in light of their nearest provinces being supportive of the insurgents with more orthodox Islamic residents than the tribalists you've been able to start working with, provinces their central government must placate due to the recent civil war.
Ultimately, if Zoria is to hold onto her new territories, you must couple these sticks with some carrots. Your aggressive proselytizing of Odinism is enflaming Islamic sensibilities in the region, even if you're not being aggressive in that area the foreign Jihadis see you doing it everywhere else.
Cascadia is ready to support Zoria in all these matters, but not if it's going to turn the region into a decades-long open sore upon the world body."

With that said, Stephen added, "I also would like to remind the assembled that as prominent as it's been, East Veleria is not the only concern for the Pacific nations. There is still the issue of the ultimate goals of this conference and how closely it will bind our nations togeth..."
An aide, having been receiving a series of text messages on his PDA, leaned in and whispered into the President's ear, a horrified look on his face. Stephen listened intently, thankful that this version of him lacked the hearing problems he had back on Earth, as the aide gave him the news....


Adams Capitol District, Cascadia


The flames burned high in the sky on Embassy Row, local police and embassy guards securing the area and permitting firefighters to rush to stop the fires consuming the Zorian Embassy. Many were dead, many were wounded, and all were startled by the sudden destruction of the day's peace in the tranquil valley city that was the center of Cascadia's federal government.
Investigations, and announcements sent to news stations, confirmed that the Al-Hadja Martyrs Brigade (named after a Jihadi Imam that had been killed by pro-Zorian Egsa refugees in Rangatara) had been responsible. A half-Adabani, half-Caucasian Cascadian citizen and student named Muammar al-Hadar (birth name Lionel Stahl) had rammed a delivery truck filled with ANFO into the thick gates of the Embassy, hitting with just enough force that the gates gave way. Even though he had not gotten through the door proper, being shot dead by a guard with his truck lacking the momentum to get to the door, he was close enough that his deadman's switch ensured the detonation gutted the structure anyway.
The proclaimations of the al-Hadja Brigade were the usual screeds about Jihad against the Zorian Pagans and how they were all burn in Hell, but the impact of a successful attack on the soil of a "modern" country as opposed to a Velerian one was far greater. Analysts would come to the conclusion that Cascadia had been picked for three reasons: it's prominence amongst the Pacific Nations, the fact President Garrett was attending the Pan-Pacific Conference in Wuhan personally and supporting Zoria through that, and the fact that Cascadian law and practice, especially the lack of public surveillance and the emphasis on citizens' privacy and personal freedoms, made an attack easier to plan and pull off than in a more policed nation like Serenity or Zoria itself.



Seattle Post-Intelligencer (on the day of attack)


Violence in Rangataran Refugee Camps continues

LE KANH PROVINCE, RANGATARA - Another four direct murders rocked the Malip camps in Le Kanh Province in the last two days, prompted by what authorities are likening to an internal Malip religious schism. The murder of an Arab Imam by Malip traditionalists is said to have prompted the killing of three more Malips by Malip followers of the slain Imam and his orthodox faction. Experts believe that the ongoing insurgency against Zorian expansion into the Dragonsnake Basin and the strain between orthodox Jihadi groups and their Malip supporters against the Malip traditionalists, and their heterodox Islamic practices, has sparked the ongoing bloodletting in the camps and in the Basin itself.

A letter addressed to the Red Cross from the "Malip Youths of Jihad" warned that more violence would be in store if Malip traditionalists tried to kill more orthodox adherents. "Malip land, Muslim land, is under siege from Pagans. Allah commands that Jihad be waged against the Pagans by all good Muslims. To attack Muslim brothers who have come to aid the Malip in their holy war is to deny Jihad, an act of blasphemy. They must repent this or they will surely meet their fates in Hell with the Pagans. Malip people, do not listen to those who deny the Jihad and who lash at our brother Muslims. Deny them. Fight the Zorian Satan instead!"

Rangataran authorities have discussed increasing security details to the camps to prevent further violence, but believe they are stuck in an impasse as they are unable to risk alienating the ethnic Malips and other Muslim tribes that dominate southwestern Rangatara with further involvement in the camps, which is believed would cause another civil war.



Zorian courts accused of "economic nationalism" in regard to Arabiapolis contest.


ADAMS CAPITAL DISTRICT - A number of corporations with international holdings have openly questioned a recent court ruling in Zoria, in which the San Dorado firm of Universal Construction had their defamation suit against Dawkins and Wallice dismissed with prejudice and were heavily fined to "cover court costs". Jayson & Peller Construction leadership led the charge, accusing Zoria's courts of indulging in "economic nationalism" by permitting Dawkins and Wallice to "literally get away with outrageous slander against a respected company".

"They accused Universal Construction, which has had to build sound structures in an earthquake prone region for a century, of cutting corners with safety to reduce expenses," says a note on the company's website. "They did so with vague citations of inspections and reports that they have never enumerated and which is not held up by objective investigation, as proven by the fact that the Byzantines accepted the UC bid over the D and W bid. But if Zorian courts is going to let Dawkins and Wallice get away with this, what other acts will they let them get away with?"

Jayson & Peller Construction and Haller Brothers Construction, two leading Cascadian building firms, are both competing with Dawkins and Wallice bids in upcoming projects in the provincial cities of Portland and Monroe. It is also expected that all three companies, as well as Universal Construction, will be putting bids into Grant Province's ambitious Skyline Expansion Plan for the provincial capital of Fort Sheridan, where federal, provincial, and metropolitan authorities in conjunction with private companies are planning a number of new construction works for service buildings, including a new HQ and a new manufacturing complex for North-Lockheed. Haller Brothers CEO Jake Haller III expressed concern that Dawkins and Wallice may "stoop to the same tactics" against his company, especially since it was recently revealed that Haller Brothers was in negotiations with Universal Construction to cooperate on a joint bid for the North-Lockheed Building.

Hoshi Sakamoto, spokesman for Dawkins and Wallice's Seattle branch, defended his company's record. "Universal Construction's record really does speak for itself, for those willing to actually look at it. The courts of Zoria imposed the great fine on them because they wasted the court's time and acted childishly." When asked to give a response to accusations from an unnamed local UC representative that the fine was a punitive measure by the court over the fact that UC, not Dawkins and Wallice, eventually won the bid, Sakamoto replied, "That's not even worth the dignity of a response from me, not less the honorable judges of Zoria."

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Constantinople Times

Sultan Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb IV of Syria calls the Zorian menace the new Great Satan. Declares Jihad against Zoria.

In response to the rising religious violence against Muslims in Valeria, Sultan Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb IV, Caliph of the Islamic World, described Zoria as the new Great Satan. The other being Imperial Japanistan. "The actions of the Imperial Zorian Military against the Muslims of the realm, and their attempts to divide Muslims, causing brother to fight brother have show that the Zorians are scum of the Earth. May Allah smite them with his wrath for daring to perpetuate such crimes against the believers of the True Faith. I call upon all Muslims to realise their sins and to beg for Allah's forgiveness, and to join hands to resist the Great Satan as one. Those who fail to do so are not only heretics, but deserve to be burnt in the fires of hell." It is believed that the call to arms was also heard in Egypt where the Sultan still commands sizable influence, to the chagrin of the Sultan of Egypt.

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Imperial Chronicles
Top Secret
Defence Brief

Army

1. The Army seeks to replace all K-2 Black Panther tanks with the new K-3 Black Tiger tanks, while relegating the Black Panther to Limitanei Kataphrateoi brigades. Replacement will take 5 years. Improvements are expected to be made with each successive batch. The Emperor is in favour of the procurement, as is the cabinet.

2. The Army also seeks to supplement existing AFVs with a Black Tiger AFV variant, as well as replace all artillery pieces with a Black Tiger derived Self-Propelled 155mm ETC artillery gun. The Emperor is in favour and procurement is expected to begin next year.

3. Organisation of the first Imperial Kataphrateoi Tagmata is almost complete. Organisation of the planned second and third Tagmata will be ready in 2-3 years time. For the sake of ensuring professionalism of the army, training is slow but thorough.

4. Army Aviation seeks to acquire its own fleet of transport craft independent of the Air Force. Possible license production or acquisition of An-124-100, C-17, C-27 and A400M is under study. For now, procurement of 48 A400M, 36 C-17, and 24 An-124-100 has been approved.

5. Army Aviation will receive all the existing Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche III aircraft by the end of this year. Army Aviation seeks more aircraft, and there are suggestions to either acquire a new CAS aircraft to either supplement or replace the Su-25BM. Byzantine Aeronautics commissioned to study possible replacements and allowed to pursue collaborations with SNC or MESS companies.

Air Force

1. The Air Force seeks to boost its bomber force with T-4MS-BM aircraft. Production of these aircraft have begun with annual procurement at 16 aircraft a year.

2. The Air Force also seeks to procure more F-22Bs. Production line could be restarted, but costs of acquisition of aircraft deemed still very high if annual rate of production is only 32 aircraft a year. While the procurement of 64 aircraft is within the means of the state, it has been decided that procurement of such aircraft will be delayed till after the following year. The Air Force has suggested retiring the F-15 and transferring it to the Army. Army appears to be interested. Concerns of too much overlap between the Air Force and Army has been raised and a decision will be made to see if the F-15s should be retired, and either the Army retains some nominal aviation to support its missions and the Air Force still retains the air superiority mission, or the Air superiority is handed to the Army, while the Air Force focus on long range air interception of enemy bomber fleets. The PAK-FA fighter from the CSR is being studied as a potential candidate for service in the army as well.

3. The Air Force would like the acquisition of new KC-45 tanker aircraft. This has been approved, with production at 32 aircraft yearly.

4. The Air Force would like to acquire more transports. Procurement of 48 A400M, 36 C-17, and 24 An-124-100 has been approved.

Navy

1. Exarch and Consul class cruisers are slowly coming online. One cruiser will be used as a testbed for a new prototype anti-air defence system.

2. Strategos and Praetor class destroyers are also coming online. The first two hulls will be launched and sent for fitting out. One destroyer will be used as a testbed for a new prototype anti-air defence system.

3. A new line of ship designs termed MARS (Military Afloat Reach and Sustainability) has been accepted. There will be four variants. One variant, MARS-R is designed as a Fleet Replenishment vessel designed to carry two cranes for the purpose of resupplying naval vessel weapons. MARS-O is designed as a Fleet Oiler. MARS-S is designed as a Submarine tender. MARS-RO is to be a roll-on/roll off ship. A total of 8 of each type will be acquired, with a possibility of expanding the total number to 10 each.

4. The 2/3 deployment and 1/3 refit state will be maintained.

Space Defence
1. Space Defence command will slowly acquire MiG-105 space planes, and new stratellite and satellite surveillance systems.

2. The new S-500 air defence system which entails a naval and land air defence system and ballistic missile defence is currently undergoing testing. We expect the system to be ready at the end of the year. The system will replace whole swaths of systems, since it includes, in modular fashion, short, medium and long range air defence.

[Lonestar]

Royal Palace
"...and there was only one survivor, we have identified him as one Don Kruze, formerly a contractor with the San Doradon Intelligence Service."

"Contractor?" Lonestar asked.

"While many nations have a civil service/contracting mix for government work, San Dorado doesn't have civil servants in the sense we do. Everyone there is a contractor."

"And everyone there is a San Doradon?"

"One of the bodies belonged to a man named Al-Madei, a Shepistani who emigrated to San Dorado. Unfortunately he began to turn and had to be put down." LTG Sharpe said. "Basically, we know what they were doing, but not why. Or even who was behind it."

"The virus..." Lonestar said

"They were infecting a survivor settlement in order to get more infected blood." Blitzschlag said. "I said it before, and I shall say it again...it is not a natural virus. I am of the opinion that it was either an attack in San Dorado, or an accidental release. San Doradon claims about it being a natural epidemic are foolish."

"BIOCOMM claims that they've found no evidence of an active BW program." Lonestar pointed out. Blitzschlag snorted, but didn't speak out. Work on the SNYDER project continued, and BIOCOMM had yet to find and shut it down. Of course, part of the reason was because the OD had waved some of it's HERV findings to the public, but there were facilities that remained buried in the deep places of the earth...

"Secretary Berman." Lonestar said.

"Yes?" The Secretary of State replied.

"I want you to contact San Dorado and ask them why on earth their people are stomping around in my backyard making rage zombies. Secretary DiBacco, contact BIOCOMM and have them investigate the site...in addition, I want to keep a DominionHawk on station outside of San Dorado at exactly the international limit mark."

"Roger. We can probably swing a Mach 3 bird out of Tian Jiao..."

"I don't want to create a shooting incident, but get the package ready. Speak with your Tian Xia counterpart and see if he'll let us do it...but no damn overflights except on my say-so."

"You make me a sad panda...."

[RogueIce]

Shinra Republic Embassy, Port Victory, United Kingdom of Zoria

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Shinra Republic to the United Kingdom of Zoria was not in a good mood. The recent chaos in Zoria and the bombing of the Zorian embassy in Cascadia were bad enough. The declaration of a Jihad by some Sultan in Syria certainly didn't make things any better. Following the Pan Pacifica Conference, along with his counterpart in the Kingdom of Serenity didn't improve his opinion of Zorians in general and King Leighton in particular. He wants everyone to think he has the situation in hand and that things are 'just fine' while executions are happening in refugee camps and his embassy is being blown up. That may work on his populace, but if he thinks the rest of the world is that stupid...

With an effort, he got himself under control. It didn't serve the ambassdor to have such decidedly undiplomatic thoughts, after all. Besides, he had a secure call from the President to take.

"Mister Ambassdor," began the President of the Shinra Republic, "How are you today?"

"I'm doing okay, Mister President, all things considered."

"I understand, Rick. Speaking of 'all things' being considered, how are your current security arrangements?" The President was of course referring to the SOP of the heightened alert for the embassy following the bombing of the Zorian embassy in Cascadia. Although to the best of the government's knowledge the Shinra Republic was not a target, the fact there was such violence against their host nation dictated that a heightened state of alert for the embassy was prudent.

"Procedures are in place, sir. With the, erm, methods in use by the local Zorian police authorities make an attack in their homeland relatively unlikely, my Chief of Security is of course not going to take chances. And neither will I."

"That's good, that's good. So, I know your previous attempts to talk with the Zorian government didn't exactly meet an overwhelming reception...but I think we should try again. Stress to them once again our concern about stability in the region."

"I will, Mister President, though I expect they'll probably brush us off again."

"If they do, then I think it would be obvious that they are not interested in our concerns, Mister Ambassador. In which case I'd think we should 'recall you for consultation' to best decide how to work with the Zorian government in the future."

"Yes, Mister President." With that the conversation was over. The ambassador picked up the phone and had his secrtary call the Zorian foreign office.

"Tell them I would like an audience with their most senior officer present. So that we may once again express our concern over the situation in Rangatara. And, when you have the chance, see if you can't find a way to put into their grapevine - subtley, of course - that if they ignore us again I may be 'recalled for consultation' in the near future."

There was a brief pause while the ambassador's secretary digested that. But when she spoke again her voice was all business. "Right away, Mister Ambassador."

[Siege]

"I want you to contact San Dorado and ask them why on earth their people are stomping around in my backyard making rage zombies.”

Diplomatic Communique, Priority Two

Sirs,

What you describe is a very serious matter and we will do everything in our power to assist you. Unfortunately, concerning your inquiry into the actions of what you deemed a ‘contractor’ for the ‘San Dorado Intelligence Service’, I have to inform you that no such agency of that name exists.

A Don Kruze has in the past been affiliated as a low-level operative with the External Intelligence Agency, but he has not been with the EIA since July 2009. Moreover, we have taken him into custody early this morning in his condominium in Port Regal. Whoever it is you have arrested on your soil, you must be mistaken in his identity.

We also have no further information concerning the EAS virus apart from what is already available to you through BIOCOM. San Dorado is not involved in the creation, cultivation or dissemination of the virus. We have no knowledge of any illicit activity in the Old Dominion involving San Doradan citizens. We also have no knowledge of a Mr. Al-Madei. He may be one of many Shepistanis who have emigrated to San Dorado in the past, but we have no information concerning his whereabouts.

Regarding the recent infection in the Sprawl, our current working hypothesis is, was and remains that looters of Astarian assets have inavertedly brought the virus to San Dorado. BIOCON would appear to agree that this is the most likely cause of the infection in San Dorado.

It is unfortunate that we cannot be of more assistance to your inquiries. If you have any further information or questions regarding this matter, let us know.

Cordially,

Daphne Sinclair
Executive Director, DELEJ

[CmdrWilkens]

BIOCOM Alert Message to Member Nations

- As of 1400 Zulu Time members of the site inspection team request by the Old Dominion in the territory formerly known as Shepistan have confirmed a limited prescence of an engineered pathogen.

- This pathogen matches, with 2 minor mutation strains, the pathogen principally responsible for destruction in the Sprawl section of San Dorado city.

- A full alert has been issued to all BIOCOM inspection teams and the Agency hereby serves notice, as required, that ALL facilities identifed as potential Bio-Warfare sites will be subject to inspection.

- The list of sites is being include in a seperate communique which will be provided by the inspection team leader to the designated authority upon the opening of their inspections. Non-compliance with these inspections will be cause for immediate notice to all other member nations.

- BIOCOM does not, at this time, have any advisroies in regard to potential source or propogation of R1N2, commonly called the "Rage" virus. Any facility with samples of this virus which is not identified to BIOCOM inspectors will be considered a breach of the treaty and cause for notice to all other signatory nations.

- BIOCOM will advise, upon completion of forsensic invesitgation, as to source and methods of virus propogation for this strain and its variants.

[Zor]

Pan Pacifica Conference

The king returned after being consulted on the affairs in Cascadia by one of his secretaries while he composed himself "As you have all undoubtably heard, the Zorian Embassy in Cascadia was hit by a suicide attack by Islamist forces. Apparently, the tenticles of this deamon can reach into areas we did not expect them to be in. It stands to our attention that the forces of Islamism pose a threat to all our nations and clearly some form of joint action is nessisary, with naval action to prevent the flow of weapons into Eastern Veleria, as well as putting an end to the slave trade which they were engaged in. A strong effort to stop shipments of weapons how Queen Adria herself managed to quickly bring in the Coastal Principalities during the Zorian Wars of Unification as well as other ninteeth century powers managed to prevent. It will also be nesssisary for your police agencies, as well as Intelligence Services. I also have come to agree with the Cascadian in regards to the issue of negative press in regards to the expansion of Zorian Norse and Shinto faiths into predominantly Islamic regions and i will consult with them after this meating to cease activity in said nations.

"Before tragic events turned us away from the meeting Stephen, you said that you were willing to assist the Kingdom in its endevors do not turn Eastern Veleria into a warzone for decades to come. This is not in the best interests in Veleria, however, we must seek to neutralize threats that come up against our assets."

---

(The following has been forwarded to various press agencies in the old world as well as being posted on various websights, alongside which have been several handwriten notes to several middle eastern islamic leaders and high ranking figures in Old World nations)

To the leaders of the Christian and Islamic Faiths...
Today a spector long which i had hoped had long since been vanquished has returned to the Darken this Earth, the spector of Relgious intollerence and hatred. This spector has over mankind's history cost millions of lives in holy wars and acts of repression. It was a nightmare my ansestors fought against during the Zorian War of Indepedance against the Shroomanians who often burned our temples and killed our "Heathan" priests and priestesses. And it is one which which followers of Both Christianity and Islam had experienced as their nations waged war against each other and slaughered each other by the millions over the technicalities of your worship of Yahweh. However, the native Religions of Zoria managed to survive, not by the virtue of superior military arms or by forcing the conversion of foreign settlers to pray to Odin or Amaterasu, but because the people of Zoria have embraced the ideals of Religious tollerence. A land were Muslims, Christians, Atheists, Jews as well as followers of Norse and Shinto Religion and of other faiths may live without conflict. Together we have built one of the world's most prosperous societies on earth. It is my desire to see such a state acheived around the world where people can pray as they see fit without fear of holy wars or persecution. As such, i humbly request to the Honorable leaders of your faiths gather for a public discussion involving Religious tollerence and positive relations between the faiths, as we can defuse the threat which inter-faith conflict poses to the world and her people.
May your deeds on Earth be worthy of Valhalla and the Gods...
Thorkild Kolflaath, Head Father of the Association of Norse Priests

---

Shinra Republic Embassy, Port Victory, United Kingdom of Zoria

Zorian Foreign Minister Sawako Makisumi entered the building and prepared for a meeting with the Shinra Ambassador in regards to eastern Veleria. He sat down and began to discuss affairs, opening up with the the fact that Zoria had invested a considerable amount of manpower and resources into the presence in Eastern Veleria and had begun collection of a multitude of valuable resources in the area, and that it is an investment that the kingdom is not yet willing to abandon so quickly, as well as pointing out the benifits that come to said nation through the use of Velerian Labourers paid wages well above the standard of their home nations.

[Steve]

Pan Pacifica Conference

The king returned after being consulted on the affairs in Cascadia by one of his secretaries while he composed himself "As you have all undoubtably heard, the Zorian Embassy in Cascadia was hit by a suicide attack by Islamist forces. Apparently, the tenticles of this deamon can reach into areas we did not expect them to be in. It stands to our attention that the forces of Islamism pose a threat to all our nations and clearly some form of joint action is nessisary, with naval action to prevent the flow of weapons into Eastern Veleria, as well as putting an end to the slave trade which they were engaged in. A strong effort to stop shipments of weapons how Queen Adria herself managed to quickly bring in the Coastal Principalities during the Zorian Wars of Unification as well as other ninteeth century powers managed to prevent. It will also be nesssisary for your police agencies, as well as Intelligence Services. I also have come to agree with the Cascadian in regards to the issue of negative press in regards to the expansion of Zorian Norse and Shinto faiths into predominantly Islamic regions and i will consult with them after this meating to cease activity in said nations.

"Before tragic events turned us away from the meeting Stephen, you said that you were willing to assist the Kingdom in its endevors do not turn Eastern Veleria into a warzone for decades to come. This is not in the best interests in Veleria, however, we must seek to neutralize threats that come up against our assets."

"First I would like to extend my nation's condolences to the Zorian Nation for those of your people killed in this attack," Stephen answered. "We will provide you with the results of our investigation and your authorities are welcome to contact our's with any information they may have that is relevant to the issue."

"I had been about to state the obvious fact that the issue at hand is about how greatly the ties between our nations will be. The levels of cooperation between our law enforcement authorities and counter-terrorism assets as well as economic measures to ensure the slow recovery from the Pathogen War is not lost. And, of course, the scale that this conference's proposed alignment will come to."

"But before I get to that, I must ask you to clarify the remarks on the threat of 'Islamism', as opposed to Jihadism. I know that your nation, like mine, has a small population of Muslims, about half of our's all-told, while Cascadia is also still tightly linked to our former colony in Adabani that is majority Muslim and who's sensibilities matter to our nation given our long ties. Referring to the violence against Zoria as 'Islamism' threatens to paint them all with the same brush and to worsen the bad relations that already unfortunately impact Zoria and the world's Muslims." The last thing Stephen needed was to let that stand without comment when Zorian authorities in Cascadia had, before they were mostly killed by the Embassy attack, been fighting the League of Cascadian Mosques over its chairman's mixed denouncement of outright terrorism but acknowledgement that direct conflict with Zorian troops in the Dragonsnake Basin was "proper Jihad" - said chairman represented eighty-five percent of Cascadia's Muslim community. "I am also curious as to your intention for the scope of cooperation between intelligence and police authorities on the issue of dealing with slavery, terrorism, and other activities of common interest to our nations."

[Zor]

"Forgive my poor choice of words on the matter, i would not desire to alienate the muslims of the world and especially not the law abiding and tollerent citizens of our respective nations by equating them to violent Jihadis. But the point stands that something needs to be done. On the matters of law enforcement, a free exchange of forensic information between police agencies among Pacific states, as well as plans for the transfer of trained specialists and police experts in certain fields would be a good solid start."

[Steve]

"I see no problems with such proposals. The arrangements can be made as part of these talks. Now, however, I have the lingering concern about your initial proposals from the last conference in regards to a standing alliance between Pacifican nations..."

(Zor, perhaps we should let Yenchin and Marius chip in?)

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

To the leaders of the Christian and Islamic Faiths...
Today a spector long which i had hoped had long since been vanquished has returned to the Darken this Earth, the spector of Relgious intollerence and hatred. This spector has over mankind's history cost millions of lives in holy wars and acts of repression. It was a nightmare my ansestors fought against during the Zorian War of Indepedance against the Shroomanians who often burned our temples and killed our "Heathan" priests and priestesses. And it is one which which followers of Both Christianity and Islam had experienced as their nations waged war against each other and slaughered each other by the millions over the technicalities of your worship of Yahweh. However, the native Religions of Zoria managed to survive, not by the virtue of superior military arms or by forcing the conversion of foreign settlers to pray to Odin or Amaterasu, but because the people of Zoria have embraced the ideals of Religious tollerence. A land were Muslims, Christians, Atheists, Jews as well as followers of Norse and Shinto Religion and of other faiths may live without conflict. Together we have built one of the world's most prosperous societies on earth. It is my desire to see such a state acheived around the world where people can pray as they see fit without fear of holy wars or persecution. As such, i humbly request to the Honorable leaders of your faiths gather for a public discussion involving Religious tollerence and positive relations between the faiths, as we can defuse the threat which inter-faith conflict poses to the world and her people.
May your deeds on Earth be worthy of Valhalla and the Gods...
Thorkild Kolflaath, Head Father of the Association of Norse Priests

To the Head Father of the Association of Norse Priest

If the Zorians are truly sincere about peace, they should cease their encroachment of Muslim lands in Valeria. For too long have they been persecuted by first by, curse be upon them, Japanistani and Shepistani troops. Then now, Zorian troops. If the Zorians are truly what they claim to be, "tolerant and peaceful", then they should withdraw from Muslim territory and cease encroaching on their lands. Other wise, the Zorians are nothing more than lying hypocratic serpents who only deserve to be smite by Allah himself.

Sultan Ṣalāḥ ah-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb IV, Caliph of the Islamic world.

[Siege]

Notice To The International Intelligence Community

Sirs, madams,

We regret to inform you that a ship carrying suspected jihadists has left La Palma harbour and is believed to be currently headed for the continent of Velaria carrying large amounts of small-arms and several dozen combatants.

The ship, the SS Kido, is registered in the Caymans and crewed principally by Arabian sailors. The crew, and all others aboard, are believed to have heeded the call to Jihad issued by Sultan Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb IV of Syria.

San Dorado law does not permit us to stop anyone from travelling to Velaria, or from carrying arms to sea. It is therefore not currently in our power to stop these or any other people from setting forth on their jihad. We will, however, inform you of any further suspicious shipments headed for Velaria.

Sincerely,

Director Edward McGowan
Central Bureau of Investigations
San Dorado City


ATTACHMENT: SS KIDO.IMG

[Fingolfin_Noldor]

Constantinople Times

Muslim protests against Zorian acts of war erupt across the world.

After Sultan Ṣalāḥ ad-Dīn Yūsuf ibn Ayyūb IV issued his fire and brimstone statement calling for Jihad against Royal Zorian forces in Valeria, Muslims across the world marched upon Zorian embassies to launch massive protests against Zorian actions in Valeria. In Constantinople, a large crowd of Turkish and Arab Muslims, many of whom from Antioch and Ikonium, marched onto the Zorian Embassy. Crying "Allahu Ackbar! Praise Saladin the Great! Death to the Great Satan! Go back to your homes dogs!", they hurled shoes at the gates of the Zorian embassy in anger. No violent scuffles occurred, as police held firm against the crowd.


Muslims protesting in Syria.

[Coiler]

International waters, off the coast of Veleria

Captain Gold looked nervous. "You sure these orders are correct?". After all, the suspicious ship had been followed by Coilerburg's submarines ever since San Dorado gave the warning, but to sink it was something else entirely.

"Straight from COMINCH himself, clear. 'Sink the SS Kido. It is carrying terrorist weapons."

"Do we have the right ship?"

"Everything matches the Kido's reading exactly."

"All right." Sinking a freighter with a submarine was dicey enough as was, but if by some chance the wrong ship was attacked-he wasn't sure that Coilerburg would survive that. Gold was old enough to remember how Coilerburg barely averted drawing San Dorado into Iler's War when a destroyer sank a submarine believed to be Indhopali-and that was actually the San Dorado submarine Neptune. But orders were orders.

Four torpedoes whizzed out of the tubes. Three struck the Kido, and in just over a minute, it, its cargo of weapons, and most of the jihadists on board on board were all on the ocean floor-or so it would seem to the Overseer.

[Grand Moff Yenchin]

Pan Pacifica Conference

"My deepest condolences to the families of the Zorian personnel," said Yenchin. Yuki's messages began to flood in his own PDA, including some brief updates on how the Exec Hall was acting in response to the terrorist incident.

He turned back to the leaders, "On the alliance, besides the cooperation of trade, education, and crime prevention, perhaps we can further the alliance into the cooperation of underwater surveying, for resources. On a more conservative note, I'm also considering military cooperation in the Pacific, such as the increasing problem of illegal sea activity."


===================

Serenity Sentinel

Jihad Affecting Election?

Besides well known, long discussed issues such as MESS status, Pan Pacificism, East Coast vs. West Coast and Shinto vs. Taoism, a new factor has come to affect the upcoming Fall Election: The Jihad. While the recent Jihad is focused against Zoria, effects are beginning to be felt in politics.

Recent polls show a shift in opinions in some of the well known "versus debates". For instance, after the stabbing of Serenite worker Justin Long in Rangatara, the support in maintaining MESS status has raised 5~10%. Blue Party candidates in the West Coast have noticed a significant raise in support as well, including some Green Party dominated regions.

"'Bluish policies' are making their comeback since the MESS-Shepistani War," said Sarah Parin, Blue Party candidate for the Governor of the Gohiung Province, in an earlier interview, "People have finally realized that it is our Party that makes the Kingdom safe and sound, while still making benefit." Current support for Parin is 52% as opposed to the Green's Hillary Kinton, who has 48%. It is the first time in Gohiung that a Blue has actually won a pre-election poll.

However, the Greens are still confident. "What the Blue Party has never understood," says Etaryo Kimura , Green Party candidate for Legislative, "is that the Jihad merely exposes some issues, while this indeed causes people to shift their opinions, the effects are both ways. In the end, what really matters is what party can bring the most to the people, which is why support to the Greens have been steadily growing. The Blues are hindering progress, it's about time for change."

The Election will be held on Novem-Selena 13th. Results of the Election will speak for themselves.

[Steve]

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer


Merchant vessel feared lost in Pacific; Navy to investigate

MALIKA, RANGATARA - Port authorities in Rangatara fear the worst in the case of the merchant vessel Kida which has been reported lost with all hands since signaling a brief SOS in the Pacific between Frequesue and Veleria earlier this week. According to ships in the area the Kida, which was carrying various relief supplies for the refugee camps in Rangatara on top of consumer goods meant for Cascadia, reported an urgent SOS and the radio-man specified "multiple explosions" rocking the container ship before contact was lost. The Cascadian Navy has agreed to dispatch a salvage/recovery ship to try and locate the Kida.

Flagged in the Cayman Islands, most of the crew consisted of Cascadian citizens with one Caymanian and one Adabani. Their names have not yet been released to the press by the ship's owner Trans-Pacific Shipping, a multi-national conglomerate formed by Cascadian, Caymanian, and San Dorado companies with its HQ in San Dorado.


al-Hadrama, Hadhramara


The fighters on board the Kido had no idea how close they'd come to hitting the bottom. Ignorant of San Dorado signalling their existance and equally ignorant of the attempt by Coilerburg to shadow and eventually sink them, they'd been lucky enough to cross paths with a ship of roughly equivalent size, registry, and name and to have the submarine prowlers far enough away to confuse the two during a brief squall.

Now they were putting into port in the nation of Hadhramara along its eastern coast, thus avoiding the inspection zone that Zoria's Navy had put up. In this seedy port town in Hadhramara they could easily disembark with their weapons and begin the hard trek north to the Dragonsnake Basin.

[Beowulf]

Hadhramara

"Comrades! You have been chosen to undertaken a great action against the Zorian Satan! You will begin training with RPGs and AKs."

[Master_Baerne]

Baernish Intelligence Service
Mission Authorization
Target Acquisition - SS Kido
FROM: Her Excellency Countess Truman, Minister for War, in consultation with [CENSORED], BIS Director
TO: BIS Operatives 86, 43, 99

You are hereby requested and required to, plant a radar beacon aboard SS Kido, a freighter registered in San Dorado. Do not be aboard the Kido after beacon activation.

Baerne Invictus

Results: We're going to try and plant an electronic tracker aboard the suspected terrorist ship. If it's guilt is confirmed, and if it picks up another load of weapons and jihadis, well...We've got these lovely suborbital strike planes and no one to test them on.

[Coiler]

The damage had been done, and now all Admiral Farve could do was to try to salvage the situation as much as he could. "Send a message to Trans-Pacific admitting that we sank their ship, but be absolutely sure to show that it was a case of mistaken identity. Be prepared to reimburse them for the cost of the ship."

"What should we do about Captain Gold?"

"Have a hearing, and see what they say about him. I don't blame him for following orders and attacking what he was sure was the enemy. Sacking him would just make him blab to the press about our blunder, and that's not what we need."

"If we have to can someone, who would it be?"

"The sensor operators on the Overseer, for failing to tell the difference between the two ships.

"Admiral, what do you recommend we do to prevent this from happening again?"

"Get more marine search craft. We can never have too many of those. And let's not be so trigger-happy again, even if I want those jihadis all dead. Get Zoria's navy in contact, and see what we can do to help. We should've done that in the beginning, instead of trying to search an entire ocean with just two subs."